Legal Sports Gambling In Hawaii
Aloha! While Hawaii doesn’t have any professional sports franchises in the state, Hawaiians are still huge sports fans. The University of Hawaii is considered the state’s home team and offers football, basketball, baseball, soccer, softball and volleyball. The NFL’s Pro Bowl is hosted in Hawaii every year, giving residents a taste of the NFL and all the fandom and excitement it entails.
Another way to get in on the excitement of sports is through sports betting. Hawaii residents can place bets on their favorite sports teams, but there are certain regulations to pay attention to. This guide will provide you with relevant information on the proper sports betting practices and show you how to legally and safely place bets online.
Most Reputable Sports Betting Sites For Hawaii Residents In 2024
We have compiled a listing of our top recommendations for premium sportsbook destinations that accept customers from Hawaii. All of these brands have been personally vetted my our team of analysts, and we found them to be among the most esteemed options that the industry has to offer. Each site is legitimately licensed and regulated outside of the US, allowing them to legally offer their services to gamblers around the world, including those in Hawaii.
They provide exceptional service, generous bonus offers, safe and secure data protection, competitive betting lines and a wide range of sports coverage and wagering options. You will find that they deliver the most reliable betting experience possible.
| Sportsbook Name | Current Bonus | Rating Out Of 5 | US Friendly | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsbook | 50% up to $1,000 | 4.8 | Yes | Play Now |
| BetUS Sportsbook | 125% up to $3,125 | 4.6 | Yes | Play Now |
| Bookmaker | 100% up to $500 | 4.5 | Yes | Play Now |
| Betonline Sportsbook | 50% up to $1,000 | 4.2 | Yes | Play Now |
| Sportsbetting.ag | 50% up to $1,000 | 4.1 | Yes | Play Now |
Is Sports Gambling Legal in Hawaii As Of 2024?
Currently, it is not legal to own or operate a sportsbook business either online or offline in Hawaii. This being the case, there is no state based option for Hawaii residents interested in betting on sports. As this website that offers a lot of useful information about the legalities puts it, the restrictions that are in place from state and federal laws only apply to US based sports betting, with no bearing on any international businesses offering betting services.
None of the relevant state and federal laws prohibit Hawaiian sports fans from engaging in legally sanctioned offshore sports betting through licensed and regulated sportsbook destinations located outside of the United States. All of the sportsbooks listed in this guide are legitimately licensed and regulated offshore bookmakers, offering legal sports betting lines for Hawaii residents.
Sate and Federal Laws That Govern Sportsbook Betting in Hawaii
Hawaii state laws such as SB677 pertain to the individual(s) who create or advance gambling activity. Hawaii statutes define this as “conduct directed toward the creation or establishment of the particular game, contest, scheme, device, or activity involved…” There are several federal laws in place that regulate sports betting.
The foremost law is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA, and restricts sports betting in 46 states. The only states allowed to have legalized sports betting are Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and Montana.
The Federal Wire Act deals bars bettors from placing online sports bets through US based businesses, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) monitors banks and their processing of gambling related transactions.
The federal laws in place deal only with US-based sports betting. You won’t find a Nevada-style sportsbook, where you can walk in and place a bet, in Hawaii. And if the feds had not already outlawed it, Hawaii state law also doesn’t allow state regulated bookmaking. While there are illegal bookies and sportsbooks, authorities are quick to crackdown on these types of establishments.
Back in 2013, federal authorities arrested Terrence Ching on charges of making illegal bets. Ching would hack into legal offshore sportsbooks to get the odds and then use those to place bets on behalf of other people. The difference between Ching’s case and just using the offshore sportsbooks outright is the fact that people used Ching as a bookie—he was the middleman between bettors and the sportsbooks, though ultimately he was the one profiting from the bets.
By making an account and betting with legitimately licensed and regulated offshore sportsbooks directly, you aren’t in violation of any laws. These offshore sportsbooks that we’ve recommended for Hawaii residents are all legally sanctioned and operate outside of the jurisdiction of state and federal laws.
FAQs About Betting On Sports In HI
Are Offshore Betting Sites Safe for Hawaii Residents To Use?
Yes. These offshore sportsbooks have all been vetted by the millions of users that they host. They operate outside the jurisdiction of the federal laws like PASPA, the Federal Wire Act and the UIGEA while still being legally licensed and operated. By using these sites, Hawaii residents are not in violation of any laws.
What’s the Difference Between The Richard Ching Case And Online Sportsbooks Accepting Customers From Hawaii?
Hawaii state law cracks down on people who illegally organize betting rings. Richard Ching acted as a bookie on behalf of local bettors. He was running his own operation and basing his odds off of the legal sports betting destinations.
The sportsbooks that we’ve recommended are legally sanctioned sites that are licensed and regulated to offer their services and deal with millions of customers. They are safe, secure and reliable and don’t involve illegal bookies or illegal practices of any kind.
How Do These Sportsbooks Work?
Once you create an account with an online sportsbook, you can begin browsing the different odds with the different sports they offer. You can browse the odds without depositing any money into your account. However, if you want to place a bet you must have money in your account.
You can deposit funds in a variety of ways—the most popular options are usually credit/debit cards, wire transfers and Bitcoin, to name a few. When you’re ready to withdraw, simply select the withdraw option. Most sports betting sites restrict your withdrawal method to the same deposit method you chose or a specific one that they deem appropriate based on your deposit method, but that depends on the sportsbooks’ Terms of Service.
Can I Bet On Teams Outside Of My State?
Of course. Since Hawaii doesn’t have any home sports teams, Hawaii residents wouldn’t be able to do much if they were restricted to only home team options. You can bet on any team in any league with these Sportsbooks, and often international sports and leagues are included in the betting lines.
You can even bet on college sports, races, e-sports, boxing and more. Different sportsbooks have different bets, so be sure to browse all of the categories they have.
How Do I Place A Bet?
You cannot place a bet unless you have money in your account. Once you’ve deposited funds in your account and found a bet you want to place, all you have to do is click on that bet and it will be added to your bet slip. The bet slip is usually located in the top right or left corner of your screen and keeps track of all the bets you’ve made.
Some bet slips will show you what your reward could be in relation to the amount you’re risking. Once you’re ready to confirm you bet just select the confirm option on the bet slip. Once the bet slip is confirmed all bets are considered final.
Is There International Betting Offered?
Yes. You can bet on leagues from around the world. There is also a huge soccer section where you can place bets on games from different leagues. You can even bet on international fights, races and more.
Are There Any Membership Dues?
No. Signing up for these sportsbooks is free. The only money being spent is the money you are betting. You won’t be charged a monthly or annual membership fee and you can even have accounts with multiple sportsbooks.
Are There Any Benefits To Having Accounts With Multiple Sportsbooks?
Yes. By having accounts with multiple sportsbook sites, you can see all of the different bets available to you. Not all bookmakers offer the same bets, so by having multiple accounts you can get a better idea of the total spread of bets. Sportsbooks also offer what are called bonuses—essentially free money for you to bet with.
Each brand has their own bonuses that are offered year round, so having multiple accounts will give you access to all the bonuses available.